SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – For many businesses, customers cashing in on gift cards after Christmas is just as important as their employees selling them in November and December. Several store managers say it’s the life line for business during the slowest months of the year, January and February.

CNN -- This weekend and through July 7, between 200,000 and 300,000 visitors -- more than the number of combatants -- will flock to the town and fields of Gettysburg National Military Park to mark the 150th anniversary of the three-day clash, which cost an incredible 51,000 casualties.

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. - Police in Oklahoma are speaking out about a hostage situation at a local Wal-Mart where a 2-year-old girl was held at knife-point by a man, until police shot and killed the suspect. The incident was caught on the store-s surveillance video.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- In a story that has shocked Springfield and surrounding areas, more details of the Staudte family are emerging after two of the family members are charged with the murder of two others and the assault of one who potentially survived an attempted murder.

BERRYVILLE, Ark. -- When Padgett family of Berryville entered a contest for new furniture, the hope was to win. But after learning they did just that, the thought of keeping $5,000 dollars in furniture quickly changed.

(CNN) -- "Build a biscuit, put a sheepdog on top," @sammsy posted to Twitter Thursday morning. It could be dismissed as just another nonsensical tweet, but a closer look reveals the post is followed by a hashtag -- #surrenderyoursay -- and a link towww.surrenderyoursay.com.

One of the biggest celestial events is set to occur this weekend. The biggest, brightest moon of the year will peak on Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 6:32 a.m. This type of moon has been dubbed a "Supermoon."

With temperatures on the rise, it seems that cases of heatstroke are gaining in numbers as well. Before you plan to spend the weekend outdoors and in the sun, make sure you know what to look for when it comes to this potentially dangerous condition.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal prosecutors have charged Edward Snowden, the man who admitted leaking top-secret details about U.S. surveillance programs, with espionage and theft of government property, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in Virginiaon Friday.

(CNN) -- Celebrity chef Paula Deen's contract with The Food Network will not be renewed, the network said Friday, the latest fallout over revelations this week that she admitted to using a racial epithet in the past.

Cases of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) have gone down significantly since a vaccine approved by the FDA in 2006.The rates of the four types of HPV covered by vaccines have decreased 56% in young girls.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Springfield Public Schools hopes to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs by working with the "Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps", which sends an expert to look for ways to be more energy efficient.

(CNN) - The private firm that vetted Edward Snowden in 2011 is under criminal investigation for routine failures in properly investigating the backgrounds of people in line for security clearances, Sen. Claire McCaskill said during a Senate hearing Thursday.

Hong Kong (CNN) -- Eight years ago, Leanne Rowe was in a serious car crash that resulted in a broken back and jaw. But when the former bus driver and Australian Army Reserve member recovered, she was left with something completely unexpected: a French accent.

Oakland Township, Michigan (CNN) -- The search in a field near Detroit for ex-Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa ended Wednesday, and as with so many past attempts to find him, authorities walked away empty-handed, the FBI said.

(CNN) -- An all-female jury will start hearing the murder case against Florida neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman next week, with opening arguments in the closely watched trial set for Monday.